EP1246468A2 - Modem de câble et méthode pour changer de canal dans un système de communication bidirectionelle - Google Patents

Modem de câble et méthode pour changer de canal dans un système de communication bidirectionelle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1246468A2
EP1246468A2 EP02004376A EP02004376A EP1246468A2 EP 1246468 A2 EP1246468 A2 EP 1246468A2 EP 02004376 A EP02004376 A EP 02004376A EP 02004376 A EP02004376 A EP 02004376A EP 1246468 A2 EP1246468 A2 EP 1246468A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cable modem
communication
channel
head end
end system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02004376A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1246468A3 (fr
Inventor
Naoyuki Intell. Prop. Div. K.K. Toshiba Wada
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toshiba Corp
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Toshiba Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toshiba Corp filed Critical Toshiba Corp
Publication of EP1246468A2 publication Critical patent/EP1246468A2/fr
Publication of EP1246468A3 publication Critical patent/EP1246468A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44209—Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6118—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6156—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6168—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cable modem for a bi-directional communication system such as a cable television system (CATV system), a head end system, and a channel change method.
  • CATV system cable television system
  • head end system a head end system
  • channel change method a channel change method
  • the CATV system is a bi-directional data communication system.
  • the head end system of the CATV system comprises a CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System).
  • the CMTS is connected via a coaxial cable to a cable modem installed in a subscriber house.
  • the cable modem is connected to a personal computer.
  • the personal computer performs bi-directional communication of various data such as audio data and video data between the CMTS via the cable modem and coaxial cable.
  • a communication from the CMTS to the personal computer in the subscriber house is called a downstream communication
  • a communication from the personal computer to the CMTS is called an upstream communication
  • a channel for transmitting a TV program is assigned to a given frequency.
  • a channel for transmitting data other than a TV program is assigned to a frequency in a band which does not include the given channel for transmitting the TV program.
  • the downstream communication is performed using the assigned channel.
  • An upstream communication uses a channel assigned to a frequency lower than the given frequency used to transmit the TV program.
  • the channel used in the upstream communication does not transmit any TV program. However, radio broadcasting or external noise is transmitted by the upstream communication. Hence, a channel actually used in the upstream communication is assigned to a frequency band which is almost free from such influence.
  • the head end system and the subscriber house are usually located apart from each other, and are connected via a coaxial cable.
  • the coaxial cable itself functions as an antenna and thus picks up noise, for example a frequency used for radio broadcasting.
  • the channels used in the upstream communication and the downstream communication are designated by the head end system. Each subscriber house is informed of the designated channels.
  • the channels designated by the head end system may not always be optimal for communication for some subscribers house because the some subscriber houses are located very apart from the head end system.
  • the CATV system may designate a channel which is too low in quality to communicate due to the influence of noise.
  • a cable modem which can be connected to a head end system and perform a downstream communication for receiving data from the head end system and an upstream communication for transmitting data to the head end system, the cable modem comprising
  • a cable modem termination system which can be connected to a cable modem and perform a data communication between the cable modem, the cable modem termination system comprising
  • a channel change method in a bi-directional communication system which comprises a head end system and a cable modem connected to the head end system and performs a bi-directional data communication between the head end system and the cable modem, the head end system comprising a first cable modem termination system and a second cable modem termination system, the method comprising
  • a channel change method in a bi-directional communication system which comprises a head end system and a cable modem connected to the head end system and performs a bi-directional data communication between the head end system and the cable modem, the head end system comprising a first cable modem termination system and a second cable modem termination system, the method comprising
  • a channel change method in a bi-directional communication system which comprises a head end system and a cable modem connected to the head end system and performs a bi-directional data communication between the head end system and the cable modem, the head end system comprising a first cable modem termination system and a second cable modem termination system, the method comprising
  • a channel change method in a bi-directional communication system which comprises a head end system and a cable modem connected to the head end system and performs a bi-directional data communication between the head end system and the cable modem, the head end system comprising a first cable modem termination system and a second cable modem termination system, the method comprising
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a CATV system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the center side of the CATV system comprises a head end system 1.
  • the head end system 1 comprises a LAN (local area network) 2.
  • the LAN 2 is connected to first and second CMTSs 3 and 4.
  • the first and second CMTSs 3 and 4 can communicate with each other via the LAN 2.
  • the first and second CMTSs 3 and 4 are connected to a mixer/distributor 7 via coaxial cables 5 and 6, respectively.
  • the mixer/distributor 7 and each subscriber house are wired by a coaxial cable 8.
  • the coaxial cable 8 is connected to a cable modem 9 installed in the subscriber house.
  • the cable modem 9 is connected to a personal computer 10.
  • the mixer/distributor 7 mixes downstream communication data from the first CMTS 3 and downstream communication data from the second CMTS 4, and outputs the mixed data to the coaxial cable 8.
  • the mixer/distributor 7 distributes upstream communication data received from a plurality of cable modems 9 via the coaxial cable 8 to the first and second CMTSs 3 and 4.
  • the second CMTS 4 is connected to a magnetic disk drive 11 serving as an external storage drive.
  • a list of candidate channels usable for an upstream communication and a downstream communication is registered in the magnetic disk drive 11.
  • the first CMTS 3 communicates with the cable modem 9 by using a predetermined channel selected among the candidate channels, and transmits a channel change instruction to the second CMTS 4 when it is seems that the quality of the downstream channel via the one of the candidate channels.
  • the first CMTS 3 comprises a downstream communication determination unit 30 which qualifies the downstream communication by a candidate channel and communication restoration unit 31 which restore the channel used for the downstream communication from the candidate channel to the predetermined channel.
  • the downstream communication determination unit 30 determines whether the downstream communication using the candidate channel selected from the list stored in the magnetic disk drive 11 by the second CMTS 4 fails based on the time-out time.
  • the communication restoration unit 31 resumes upstream or downstream communication using the predetermined channel, and restores the communication.
  • the CMTS 4 selects another candidate channel from the list registered in the magnetic disk drive 11.
  • the second CMTS 4 tries to communicate with the cable modem 9 by using the new candidate channel.
  • the second CMTS 4 comprises an upstream communication determination unit 32 and communication evaluation unit 16.
  • the upstream communication determination unit 32 determines whether the upstream communication using a candidate channel selected by the second CMTS 4 fails. If upstream communication using the candidate channel fails, the upstream communication determination unit 32 requests the upstream communication using the predetermined channel of the first CMTS 3.
  • the communication evaluation unit 16 measures noise for each channel used in the upstream communication. For a channel with little noise, the communication evaluation unit 16 evaluates a higher communication quality.
  • the cable modem 9 comprises a time-out detection unit 12, time-out notification unit 13, first channel restoration unit 14, second channel restoration unit 15, and communication evaluation unit 33.
  • the time-out detection unit 12 detects a time-out in the downstream communication using a channel designated by the head end system 1.
  • the time-out notification unit 13 notifies the upstream communication determination unit 32 of the head end system 1 by upstream communication that the time-out has been detected.
  • the first channel restoration unit 14 changes the channel currently used in the downstream communication to a predetermined downstream communication channel which was used by the first CMTS 3.
  • the second channel restoration unit 15 receives an upstream communication channel restoration instruction from the communication restoration unit 31 of the head end system 1 by the downstream communication. Then, the second channel restoration unit 15 changes the channel currently used in the upstream communication to the head end system 1 into a predetermined upstream communication channel which was used by the first CMTS 3.
  • the communication evaluation unit 33 measures noise for each channel used in the downstream communication. For a channel with little noise, the communication evaluation unit 33 evaluates a high communication quality.
  • noise is superposed to a channel used in the upstream or downstream communication during execution of communication between the first CMTS 3 and the personal computer 10. If the noise degrades the communication quality, the channel in use is changed to an optimum one.
  • FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the channel change method of the CATV system.
  • step S1 the first CMTS 3 bi-directionally communicates with the cable modem 9 via a first predetermined channel used in the upstream communication and a second predetermined channel used in the downstream communication.
  • step S2 the second CMTS 4 selects one of candidate channels to be used for the upstream or downstream communication.
  • step S3 the downstream communication determination unit 30 of the first CMTS 3 or the upstream communication determination unit 32 of the second CMTS 4 determines whether or not the communication via the candidate channel is successful, i.e., no time-out occurs.
  • step S4 If it determined that the communication via the candidate channel is successful, noise in the communication using the candidate channel is measured and recorded in step S4.
  • step S5 it is determined whether all the candidate channels have been checked. If a candidate channel which has not been determined exists, the flow returns to step S2. If YES in step S5, the flow advances to step S6.
  • step S6 it is determined that a candidate channel which exhibits the smallest noise is an optimum channel for communication. Using the selected optimum channel, the head end system 1 and cable modem 9 communicate with each other.
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the head end system 1 which determines whether the downstream communication via a candidate channel is possible.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the cable modem 9 which determines whether the downstream communication via a candidate channel is possible.
  • step T1 the first CMTS 3 instructs the second CMTS 4 to perform processing for changing a channel used in downstream communication.
  • step T2 the second CMTS 4 selects one of the candidate channels from the list of channels usable in the downstream communication that is registered in the magnetic disk drive 11 on the basis of the channel change instruction from the first CMTS 3.
  • step T3 the second CMTS 4 notifies the first CMTS 3 of the selected candidate channel and a time-out time.
  • the second CMTS 4 outputs the downstream communication data to the cable modem 9 by using the selected candidate channel.
  • step T4 the first CMTS 3 notifies the cable modem 9 via a channel currently used in the downstream communication of an instruction for changing the downstream communication channel to the candidate channel selected by the second CMTS 4 and the time-out time set by the second CMTS 4. At this time, the first CMTS 3 does not change a channel currently used in the upstream communication and keeps using it.
  • step U1 of FIG. 4 the cable modem 9 receives the instruction for changing the channel used in the downstream communication and the time-out time from the first CMTS 3.
  • step U2 the cable modem 9 changes the channel used in the downstream communication on the basis of the received channel change instruction.
  • the cable modem 9 waits for downstream data transmitted from the second CMTS 4 via the candidate channel.
  • step U3 the cable modem 9 sets the received time-out time in a counter (not shown), and starts counting the time-out time.
  • step U4 the cable modem 9 uses the time-out detection unit 12 to check whether the downstream communication data transmitted from the second CMTS 4 has been received via the candidate channel before the lapse of the time-out time.
  • the cable modem 9 If the downstream communication data has been received before the lapse of the time-out time, the cable modem 9 notifies in step U5 the first CMTS 3 that the downstream communication data has been received within the time-out time. In step U6, the cable modem 9 measures noise in the downstream communication data transmitted from the second CMTS 4, and notifies the first CMTS 3 of the result. In step U8, the cable modem 9 changes the channel used in the downstream communication to the one which is used by the first CMTS 3 before channel change.
  • step U4 the cable modem 9 uses the time-out notification unit 13 in step U7 to notify the first CMTS 3 of generation of the time-out.
  • step U8 the cable modem 9 changes the channel used in the downstream communication to the one which is used by the CMTS 3 before channel change.
  • step T5 the first CMTS 3 waits for reception of a time-out notification from the cable modem 9. The first CMTS 3 checks whether it has received the time-out notification from the cable modem 9.
  • the first CMTS 3 If the first CMTS 3 has received the time-out notification, it instructs in step T6 the second CMTS 4 to stop the downstream communication.
  • step T5 the first CMTS 3 waits for a downstream data reception notification from the cable modem 9 in step T7. Upon reception of the downstream data reception notification, the first CMTS 3 receives the noise measurement result from the cable modem 9 and records the result in step T8. If YES in step T5, the first CMTS 3 instructs the second CMTS 4 to stop the downstream communication in step T6.
  • step T9 the second CMTS 4 checks whether communication enable determination has been done for all the candidate channels which are registered in the magnetic disk drive 11 and are to be used for the downstream communication. If a candidate channel which has not been determined exists, the flow returns to step T2 to continue the above-described processing. If YES in step T9, the processing ends.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the head end system 1 which determines whether the upstream communication via a candidate channel is possible.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the cable modem 9 which determines whether the upstream communication via a candidate channel is possible.
  • step V1 the first CMTS 3 instructs the second CMTS 4 to select one candidate channel from the list of the candidates channels usable in the upstream communication that is registered in the magnetic disk drive 11.
  • step V2 on the basis of this instruction, the second CMTS 4 selects one candidate channel from the list of channels usable in the upstream communication that is registered in the magnetic disk drive 11.
  • step V3 the second CMTS 4 notifies the first CMTS 3 of the selected candidate channel.
  • step V4 the first CMTS 3 transmits to the cable modem 9 an instruction of changing the upstream communication channel to the candidate channel selected by the second CMTS 4.
  • step V5 the first CMTS 3 instructs the second CMTS 4 to set a time-out time.
  • step V6 the second CMTS 4 which has received the time-out time setting instruction sets a time-out time in the counter (not shown), and starts counting the time-out time.
  • step W1 of FIG. 6 the cable modem 9 receives the instruction for changing the channel used in the upstream communication.
  • step W2 the cable modem 9 transmits upstream communication data to the second CMTS 4 by using the candidate channel selected by the channel change instruction. After that, the cable modem 9 executes a processing in step W3.
  • step V7 the second CMTS 4 checks whether the upstream communication data from the cable modem 9 via the selected candidate channel used in the upstream communication is received before the lapse of the time-out time.
  • the second CMTS 4 measures noise on the received upstream communication data in step V8.
  • the second CMTS 4 notifies the first CMTS 3 that the candidate channel can be used for the upstream communication, together with the noise measurement result. Then, the first CMTS 3 executes processing in step V11.
  • step V7 the second CMTS 4 notifies in step V10 the first CMTS 3 that the upstream communication data cannot be received before the lapse of the time-out time.
  • step V11 the first CMTS 3 instructs the cable modem 9 to change the channel for the upstream communication to the one used before channel change in step V4.
  • step W3 the cable modem 9 checks whether it receives the upstream communication channel change instruction from the first CMTS 3.
  • the cable modem 9 receives the upstream communication channel change instruction from the first CMTS 3, the cable modem 9 changes in step W4 the channel used in the upstream communication to the one used before channel change in step V4.
  • step V12 the second CMTS 4 checks whether communication enable determination has been done for all the candidate channels which are registered in the magnetic disk drive 11 and are to be used for the upstream communication. If a candidate channel which has not been determined exists, the flow returns to step V2 to continue the above-described processing. If YES in step V12, the processing ends.
  • the first embodiment it is determined whether communication is possible via a candidate channel for at least one of the upstream and downstream communications during bi-directional communication between the first CMTS 3 and the cable modem 9 in the CATV system.
  • the candidate channel determined to enable communication undergoes noise measurement.
  • An optimal channel which enables communication can be selected in the upstream or downstream communication in the CATV system.
  • the channel for the upstream or downstream communication can be changed to an optimal channel during bi-directional communication between the first CMTS 3 and the cable modem 9 in the CATV system. Then, it is determined based on the design policy of the CATV system whether the upstream or downstream communication via the selected channel is performed between the first CMTS 3 and the cable modem 9, or between the second CMTS 4 and the cable modem 9.
  • the communication evaluation unit 16 for evaluating the communication quality of each channel may not be arranged in the second CMTS 4 but may be arranged at another location.
  • the communication evaluation unit 16 may be connected between the coaxial cable 8 and the mixer/distributor 7.
  • the communication quality is determined to be higher for, e.g., a larger S/N value representing the ratio of a signal to noise.
  • the communication quality is determined to be higher for a higher signal level on the data receiving side.
  • the communication quality is determined to be higher for, e.g., a smaller shift between original data before A/D conversion and A/D-converted data.
  • the first CMTS 3 comprises the downstream communication determination unit 30 determining whether the downstream communication via the candidate channel is normal, and the communication restoration unit 31 for returning the channel to the original one by the first CMTS 3 and restoring the upstream or downstream communication when the upstream or downstream communication via the candidate channel is abnormal.
  • the second CMTS 4 comprises the upstream communication determination unit 32 for determining whether the upstream communication via the candidate channel is normal.
  • downstream communication determination unit 30, upstream communication determination unit 32, and communication restoration unit 31 may be arranged at other locations.
  • An apparatus having the downstream communication determination unit 30, upstream communication determination unit 32, and communication restoration unit 31 may be connected to the LAN 2.
  • the second embodiment will exemplify a modification of the head end system 1 described in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a head end system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • a management server 18, first CMTS 19, and second CMTS 20 in a head end system 17 are connected to a LAN 2, and exchange data.
  • the mixer/distributor 7 in the head end system 17 mixes a downstream communication data from the first CMTS 19 and a downstream communication data from the second CMTS 20, and outputs the mixed data to the coaxial cable 8.
  • the mixer/distributor 7 distributes the upstream communication data received from a plurality of cable modems 9 via the coaxial cable 8 to the first and second CMTSs 19 and 20.
  • the first and second CMTSs 19 and 20 set a channel in accordance with management processing of the management server 18, and perform data communication.
  • the management server 18 executes the same operations as the communication evaluation unit 16, downstream communication determination unit 30, upstream communication determination unit 32, and communication restoration unit 31 in the first embodiment. To realize channel change operation in the first embodiment, the management server 18 transmits instructions to the first and second CMTSs 19 and 20.
  • the management server 18 reads out the recording contents of the magnetic disk drive 11 and selects a candidate channel.
  • the management server 18 transmits to the second CMTS 20 a channel change instruction of using the selected candidate channel.
  • the management server 18 transmits to the first and second CMTSs 19 and 20 an instruction of restoring communication by a channel which enables normal communication.
  • the head end system 17 comprises the management server 18, the structures of the first and second CMTSs 19 and 20 can be simplified in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.
  • the third embodiment will exemplify another modification of the head end system 1 described in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a head end system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • a CMTS 22 of a head end system 21 comprises a plurality of communication units 24 and 25 detachable from a main body 23.
  • the main body 23 has a channel change control unit 26 which executes the same operations as the communication evaluation unit 16, downstream communication determination unit 30, upstream communication determination unit 32, and communication restoration unit 31 in the first embodiment.
  • the channel change control unit 26 transmits instructions to the communication units 24 and 25, similar to the management server 18 in the second embodiment.
  • Channel change operation realized by the channel change control unit 26 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the communication units 24 and 25 are adopted instead of the first and second CMTSs 3 and 4.
  • the communication units 24 and 25 are expansion boards and are mounted on the main body 23.
  • a communication control unit 27 of the communication unit 24 performs the upstream communication by using an upstream communication interface 28 and downstream communication by using a downstream communication interface 29.
  • the communication unit 25 performs communication similarly to the communication unit 24.
  • one CMTS 22 can achieve the same effects as those of the first or second embodiment.
  • the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the candidate channel when a candidate channel is determined to enable communication, the candidate channel may be selected and used without measuring noise in the communication using the candidate channel.
  • the channel can be changed at a higher speed in comparison with the first to third embodiments.
  • the present invention can be practiced as a computer readable recording medium in which a program for allowing the computer to function as predetermined means, allowing the computer to realize a predetermined function, or allowing the computer to conduct predetermined means.
  • the method described in each embodiment can be realized by a program executable by a computer.
  • the program can be provided to various apparatuses by writing it on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, or the like), or a semiconductor memory.
  • the program can also be provided to various apparatuses by transmitting it via a communication medium.
  • a computer loads the program recorded on the recording medium, or receives the program via the communication medium.
  • the program controls the computer operation to execute the above-described processing.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
  • Maintenance And Management Of Digital Transmission (AREA)
  • Communication Control (AREA)
EP02004376A 2001-03-30 2002-03-05 Modem de câble et méthode pour changer de canal dans un système de communication bidirectionelle Withdrawn EP1246468A3 (fr)

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JP2001100136 2001-03-30
JP2001100136 2001-03-30

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EP1246468A3 EP1246468A3 (fr) 2004-08-25

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